Ethan teaches you music

Ethan teaches you music

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Ethan teaches you music
Ethan teaches you music
I wrote a song about chromatic embellishments

I wrote a song about chromatic embellishments

Part of a series of songs that explain music theory concepts using those same concepts

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Ethan Hein
Mar 25, 2025
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Ethan teaches you music
Ethan teaches you music
I wrote a song about chromatic embellishments
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There are two kinds of embellishing tones, the ones from inside the key and the ones from outside. The outside ones are called chromatic embellishments, and that name is appropriate; you get the most color from careful application of the "wrong" notes.

I give examples of chromatic embellishments here. But I didn't systematically work through all the possibilities. So I wrote a tune that uses all the possible chromatic neighbor and passing tones in C major. Enjoy:

Chromatic Embellishments

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